A trial has begun in Uralsk for six inmates who operated a criminal group inside a prison for three years, extorting money from fellow prisoners, forging court documents, and defrauding civilians on the outside. One victim was driven to attempt suicide, reports the website infohub.kz.
The defendants face multiple serious charges: organizing and leading an organized criminal group (OCG), extortion, fraud, incitement to suicide, document forgery, and causing bodily harm.
According to the indictment, one of the defendants, Asylbek Zulkashev, holds a leading position in Kazakhstan's criminal underworld. In 2015, a court in the South Kazakhstan region sentenced him to 16 years in prison for running an illegal gambling business. He arrived at the Uralsk prison in 2023 and quickly established a criminal hierarchy.
“Zulkashev organized the institution of so-called overseers, defined the chain of command, and assigned roles and responsibilities among his accomplices. He appointed himself as the chief overseer. He also designated close associates and enforcers,” prosecutor Dina Iztleuova read out.
Two of the accused were appointed as overseers of industrial zones and parcel deliveries, where the main money flows were concentrated. Another three became enforcers, carrying out orders without question. Money from victims was transferred to bank cards registered in the names of the defendants' relatives and other inmates.
The case involves nine episodes. The crimes were committed between 2023 and 2025. The first victim was an inmate whose mother owned a shop in Uralsk. Investigators say OCG members learned of this and began extorting money, threatening beatings and torture. The mother transferred a total of 1.5 million tenge to her son. In addition, the gang forced the victim to take out credit for an air conditioner and an iPhone 15, which they then sold at a reduced price. Unable to withstand the pressure, the inmate attempted suicide several times and eventually filed a police report.
Another victim was a convict who had recently sold his house in Aktobe. According to the investigation, he was promised help with parole. Believing them, he paid 1.1 million tenge. The extortionists did not stop and continued to demand money, threatening him and his relatives. To make their threats credible, they beat him. Total damages amounted to 6 million tenge. When the victim turned to the prosecutor's office, the perpetrators forced him to withdraw the complaint by again promising parole. They even provided him with a forged court order. He suspected the forgery and filed another complaint.
The investigation suggests the OCG did not limit itself to extortion within the prison. Members posted fake ads online and defrauded ordinary citizens. Damages run into millions of tenge.
Prison staff who allowed this to happen have been fired. A pre-trial investigation is underway against them.